Practice Makes Perfect

[Aryela Jade Secray]

[glow=red,2,300]Aryela Secray[/glow]

The day was overcast with the scent of rain hanging heavily on the breeze. Though the weather was warm, many beasts had scurried inside to avoid the oncoming storm. Training fields were deserted and targets were left untouched. A few archers passed Aryela as they headed inside to put their bows away. The she-wolf watched them go and gave a small smile. Well, at least the training grounds would be mostly empty, though it would nice to have someone to work with or at least challenge. The Twilight General shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly and approached the target field.

Over the last month or so, she had spent most of her time going through paperwork stashed in the gatehouse of the Twilight Trackers. The former General had left it a frightful mess; the papers were intermixed with tribal marks that Aryela couldn't read. It had taken her the better half of the month just trying to translate the odd notes. Oh well, at least the ledger and such were organized now.

Aryela stretched out her arms and began to exercise her body so she wouldn't cramp her muscles. She was dressed in a simple green tunic with a black vest over the comfortable cloth. Ebony trews adorned her legs while matching gloves hugged her arms. She had tied her medium-length headfur in a tight braid to keep it out of her way. Her shorter bangs brushed her scarred cheek as the wind tugged it from the braid.

After a few more stretches, Aryela pulled her bow from her back strap and plucked a practice arrow from her quiver. The end had a tiny rubber tip on it so if the arrow went astray, it wouldn't hurt a bystander too badly. It had been years since she struck someone by accident, but she didn't want to take any chances. The she-wolf put her arrow to the bow, aimed, and fired. The arrow struck short of the bullseye, causing Aryela to wrinkle her nose slightly. Hm, she was a bit out of practice. With a roll of her shoulders, Aryela planted herself in another position and continued training.

ooc: for anyone.

[Arctic Fang]

OOC- FINISHED!

Arctic Fang should have been looking for his wife but instead he found himself watching another femme as she practiced with her bow. It wasn't his weapon of choice but he respected the bow none-the-less. He never obtained the time to have one crafted for himself, not that he wasn't pretty good at it but needless to say a little rusty since it's been, or seemed like, forever since he's had the time to practice with his weapons, especially with the broad sword that was strapped to his back, his favorite weapon.

Arctic softly groaned at such thoughts, his golden orbs closing for a second or two. He inwardly cursed himself for not taking more time for himself. Lately he's been run ragged on missions that Brooke had requested him to take on before winter hit the Fort. The male arctic wolf finally finished the last one on his list and was hoping to have a little rest and relaxation in autumn.

The male's life had become increasingly complicated since he's taken on the occupation of captaining the Storm Striker, not that he didn't simply love being at sea. The salty water seemed to run through his veins now. It was like an addiction. But there were other things that now troubled Arctic. The main thing was his wife, Serena Brighteyes. He hadn't seen much of her since the night of their wedding dance. It was like she had vanished off the face of the map. Now he had two beasts to look for, his father and his mate. Clearly his wife's disappearance troubles him deeply.

As Arctic stood there his thoughts bounced from one thing to another. He awaited the messenger that was suppose to meet him here to give him news of his wife's where-abouts. The location of his father was less troubling since he's been 'missing' since he was a cub. Perhaps he had little hope of finding 'him' at all but his wife was another story. He thought that she really loved him and now he hasn't seen her since they wed on that warm summer evening. It was odd, very odd indeed.

The male turned to watch the female bow-beast once more but was soon jolted from his thoughts and actions by the messenger that he had sent out in search of his wife. The male tracker-hare greeted him with a solemn expression on his face. Even the expert hunts-beast couldn't find her. Arctic simply shook his head sadly as the hare placed a comforting paw on his broad shoulder. A few coins leapt into the tracker's paw and then he was gone.

Arctic turned back to the scene with a heavy heart. What on earth could have happened to his new bride? Perhaps he'd never know. It was best to just try and get on with his life even though that would be a hard thing for the male to do. Fang bit his bottom lip rather hard. Physical pain was better to feel then the pain of the heart, though he had to admit that thoughts of her leaving him whispered through his mind from time to time. What did he do that was so wrong?

The male snarled and then sauntered to the arena that was meant for a swords-beast to practice in. He was the epitome of tradition and so even in the cool breeze of the autumn he stripped to nothing but his loin-cloth and the straps that held his broad sword to his back. He pulled the never-ending metal from it's sheath and closed his eyes in order to listen to it's high pitched melody. It was indeed music to his ears. As a matter of fact it caused them to flick and his stomach to tighten at the thought of it soon to be buzzing through the air. His movements will be like that of a dancer, beautiful and filled with grace.

For a moment he held the well crafted sword out in front of him. He steadied his mind and body, making them as one. This would help him to relieve stress and to perhaps rid his mind of the agonizing thoughts that plagued him so much. And then with one swift move his hind-paw stepped forward and his blade sliced through the air at his invisible opponent. Yes indeed he was in-fact beautiful even though he was a male. His muscles flexed and then became pumped with the exertion. It felt so very good.

Time seemed to stand still as he danced and dashed here and there, the sweat building up and then trickling down his figure, following a trail through each muscular groove and valley. His hind-paws stepping and dodging those make-believe foes as he stabbed them in their fictional hearts. Yes Arctic was very agile, like a gymnast doing a routine to please the crowd. And of course he defeated his enemies, even the ones in his mind except for the one that nagged him in regards to his wife.

The male ended his practice with a rather graceful pose. His heart was beating hard, matched by the fact that his lungs gasped for some much needed oxygen. Every toned muscle was pumped and burning but it felt wonderful. He really needed this....

[Aryela Jade Secray]

ShhhThunk!

A tenth arrow landed just short of hitting the bullseye. Thus far only five had struck the mark, which was quite a poor score for Aryela. A month ago, nay, only a week ago at least 80% of her arrows had landed in the exact middle of the target. Most were still within close range, but one had unfortunately hit the very edge of the training board. Aryela curled her lip in disgust and folded her arms, thinking. I'm distracted, she thought to herself, but why? Nothing important was happening today, and she was caught up on most of the Tracker work. So why was she so unobservant?

Aryela wandered over to the target and began pulling the arrows out. As she grabbed one, a small glint on her paw caught her attention. She looked down, and suddenly she understood where her mind was trying to wander. Her left paw bore a simple silver ring. There were neither jewels nor precious stones, just a pleasant Celtic design and a small engraving on the band. Aryela flexed her paw slowly then fisted it with a sigh.

Three days ago was your death date...and I have forgotten it. Her mate had not died very long ago...only a couple of years in fact. Aryela had eagerly taken on the profession as a mercenary and now a General partially so she could distract herself from the memories, and the guilt. At times she couldn't help but wonder if her mate's death had been her fault. Logically, she had been a captive when he was killed so she had not been involved in the murder herself. Emotionally, she pondered if there was something she could have done to save him.

Stop it! she snapped at herself. You have neither the time nor the luxury to let your emotions run away with you. You can remember, but focusing on the guilt is not going to bring him back...it never brings anyone back. Not for the first time she wished that her mentor Red was there to slap some common sense into her.

Aryela jerked the last arrow out and turned around at the same time that a white wolf suddenly stepped into the arena. The she-wolf didn't pay him much mind, though one eyebrow did arch in surprise when he pulled off all of his clothing except for his loincloth. Well...that was certainly a surprise. Creatures normally didn't practice just in their skivvies, but who was she to judge? Maybe he just wanted to feel the colder elements on his body while he trained. It was a bit chilly out here after all. Aryela stared only a moment longer, trying to recollect if he was part of the Trackers. No, there are not many wolves in the Trackers. Perhaps he's with one of the ships. Though Aryela had been at the fort for some time, she still had yet to meet all of the Generals.

With a slight shake of her head, she returned to the archery range, leaving the male to go about his business. She stopped at the edge of the range, eyes shut in concentration. She tried to push her feelings to the back of her mind and focus solely on the target. When her gaze snapped open, she drew an arrow and fired. The metal lodged into the center of the target, drawing a small nod from the she-wolf. That was much better.

From there, Aryela launched off another few arrows, time and again pausing to concentrate or just looking around the field as a beast wandered across then ran to the fort. It appeared that only she and Arctic were brave enough to face the weather, especially when the sky darkened a bit more and the clouds opened to spill cool water down upon the pair.

[Arctic Fang]

Fang felt good to be in the clothing that his tribe usually wore. It wasn't until recently that he began to wear a bit more clothing. Beasts in this area usually dropped their family traditions and opted to go with the traditions of the Fort. This was fine by Arctic but every now and then he liked to remind himself of just where he came from. His heritage was very tribal and filled with traditions and customs. At times he really missed it but he knew that there was nothing for him to go back home to. Such thoughts saddened him deeply when he pondered over them for to long. It was a good thing that his practice was now finished.

The male stood to full height just in time to feel a rain drop on his nose. Softly he chuckled as he spread his arms wide and then lifted his face to the sky. Arctic loved to bask in nature but he didn't realize just how cold nature would feel on the cooler autumn day. His eyes opened and his body shuddered as he took a moment to observe the femme once more.

By now he was soaked to the bone and there was little use in putting his clothing back on until he got indoors. His decision was to stay in his tribal attire as he sauntered to the Tavern where he would grab a bite to eat.

Art gathered his things and walked passed the femme wolf-ess. A thought then entered his mind. He turned and then acted upon it immediately as he approached her. "I don't think the rains going to stop for quite a while. Would you care to join me for a drink and perhaps a bite to eat at the Tavern?" It was an odd thing for the Captain to do, to ask a complete stranger to have a meal with him, but it also felt like the right thing. After all... It would have been rude to 'not' offer. Right?

Almost nervously he waited for her response. His mind wandered to Serena and what she might think of him spending time with another femme. But she wasn't here and if she really cared she would have some how got word to her husband to let him know that she was okay and to at least inform him as to the reason why she just up and disappeared in the first place. A big part of him was angry with her for letting him hang in such a manner. This part of him dismissed the guilt that he felt for longing to have some female company. He's a male with needs after all.

He stood there patiently as his sweated, now rain soaked, toned body began to shiver and his teeth chattering. Surely she wouldn't keep him waiting for much longer. He couldn't wait to get to the Tavern where they certainly had a fire going by now; in expectation of cold wet beasts seeking shelter from the now down-pouring rain.

[Aryela Jade Secray]

The rain was cold, even against Aryela's thick wolf fur. It ran down her tight braid and trickled from her bangs onto her muzzle. She shook her head lightly and lifted the bow again. In this weather, it would be easier for her to lose control of the slippery weapon, but that was the whole point of practicing. One had to be prepared in every sort of weather for battle. War did not stop for the rain, as Aryela had found out a few times in her life. The she-wolf sighted down the shaft, calculated, then released. The arrow hit just short of the target, but Aryela wasn't too disappointed. For a rain shot, it wasn't terrible.

Another arrow came to her bow and she changed her stance a bit. The sandy ground beneath her sucked at her footpaws, but she ignored it. While she was well aware that wet sand would be a hindrance during a fight, right now she was more concerned about getting a good shot off. With another thunk, the arrow flew and barely struck the bullseye.

Aryela reached up and brushed her damp headfur out of her face. A chill ran down her spine. She'd have a warm cloak and blanket waiting for her in her barracks once she was finished here. Actually, it probably wasn't a bad idea to grab a bite to eat, or maybe she should finish up on some paperwork first. Ah, duties, duties, duties. Aryela rolled her eyes slightly and returned to the target to retrieve her arrows.

It was about then that Aryela noticed that Arctic was walking past, no doubt to get dry. The she-wolf watched him for a moment then started yanking out the arrows. To her surprise, Arctic didn't leave. Instead, he came back and accosted her.

"I don't think the rains going to stop for quite a while. Would you care to join me for a drink and perhaps a bite to eat at the Tavern?"

Well this was certainly interesting. Aryela paused what she was doing and took a moment to consider Arctic. Though she knocked at her brain a few times, she couldn't remember ever seeing the other wolf in the fort before. Perhaps he was a civilian or maybe he belonged with the ships, as was her earlier thought. Then again, it wasn't unheard of for "goodbeasts turned vermin" to come through the gates of Emerald Bay. In this case, Aryela was probably exaggerating since Arctic didn't look anything like a vermin, but appearances could be deceiving.

The General made a "hmm" sound in her throat and went back to retrieving the arrows. "I don't often make it habit to join beasts I don't know for a drink or a meal, but I thank you for the offer." Though some may have thought of her declining words as rude, Aryela spoke with genuine respect. She did appreciate the offer...she just wasn't the type who enjoyed socializing.

Aryela didn't like to think of herself as a recluse, but she did spend a lot of time in the Tracker training house or in the barracks, spilling over papers or doing other odd jobs. The she-wolf just didn't socialize, unless it was with the Trackers of course. She had to dedicate herself to leading them, and she couldn't do that if her own troops didn't trust her.

Aryela jerked out another arrow and put all of them in her quiver. By now she felt soaked through and she was really looking forward to changing her clothing and putting something warm on. She slung the quiver over her shoulder, sent a polite nod to Arctic, then started walking around the white wolf towards her quarters.

[Arctic Fang]

"I don't often make it habit to join beasts I don't know for a drink or a meal, but I thank you for the offer."

Needless to say but Arctic's hopes were dashed to pieces by her response, tiny fragments that only he could hear as they hit the ground around his footpaws. But his face did not waver. He would be damned if he would let the femme see the disappointment on his face that he felt inside. Art simply nodded respectfully toward Aryela, not really looking at her. Perhaps this in itself said something to the female wolf-ess. Who knew?

Arctic didn't know what was worse... Getting up the nerve to ask her, waiting for her response or hearing her response. He supposed that hearing it was the hardest but it took a lot for the male to ask her in the first place. The Captain was usually a recluse himself. He liked being alone. He blamed his change of heart on Serena. It's been ever since her that he's found himself longing, thirsting, for a female to talk to. The desire burned within him but he would do his best to put it out.

Her last glance found him looking directly into her eyes. His gaze found that they were the color of jade. Quickly he looked away and turned to continue on his original intended course. "That's fine. I understand." He wanted to finish by saying that he'd be at the Tavern anyway if she changed her mind but instead he bit his bottom lip and walked lightly on.

Arctic clenched his strong jaw and then shook his head once he thought it was safe enough to do so. Inwardly he was impaling himself for even asking. It was a stupid thing to do anyway. Why did he do it? He was a married beast. But was he? He hadn't seen his supposed mate since the night of their marriage, not for the lack of trying. Arctic has sent tracking and scouting beasts almost every single day but to no avail.

By the time he got to the Tavern he looked a little worse for wear. His mood had dimmed and now the only thing that he wanted to do was to drink. Art heavily pushed the large wooden door open and gave the bartender a knowing nod. He would know just what he wanted, a dark ale and some hard stuff to wash it down with.

The male sat next to the fire. Before long he was dried and none to shyly he dressed right there, already been able to down a couple of beers for the sake of his sanity. This was just what he needed. Time alone at a bar with no beast to talk to save for himself. Arctic's character was beginning to drastically change. He was losing all focus in life. He supposed that he could just throw himself into his work, be on the sea all of the time. Then maybe his wife would come searching for him. It was doubtful but a good thought for him right now.

[Aryela Jade Secray]

"That's fine. I understand."

Aryela looked around the target again, watching as Arctic slumped away like a pup that had just gotten his paw caught in the cookie jar. The she-wolf frowned a little then shook her head as she shifted her quiver over her shoulder. The lad probably just wanted company, but again, Aryela wasn't the most social of wolves. There were pack wolves and then there were lone wolves. Aryela considered herself a loner on most occasions...unless Red was around of course. A slight smile tugged on the she-wolf's face at the thought of her mentor, but it was fleeting.

As the rain started pouring down on her, Aryela swiftly spun on her footpaw and ran for her barracks. The room was dark and cold when she stepped inside. Out of habit, she locked the door behind her and left her blade in easy reach. Emerald Bay was safe, for the most part, but old habits died hard. As a merc, she was constantly watching over her shoulder for assassins, other mercenaries, or just the random beast who wanted to rob her blind.

Aryela moved to her window and made certain the curtains were drawn shut. After that, she removed her wet garments and let them slip into a basket close to her bed. After drying off her fur and letting loose the damp braid so her headfur could dry, Aryela pulled on a pair of black breeches, tugged on a white shirt with slightly longer sleeves, then laced up a sleeveless vest over that. Using a comb, she brushed the tangles out of her headfur then bound it back in another braid, looser this time so it would be able to dry faster. It was rare when the General actually wore her headfur down.

Aryela flicked wet bangs out of her eyes as she sat down at her desk. For about an hour or so, she poured through some more paperwork, checking and rechecking the rosters, noting the inventory, trying to decipher the last General's pawwriting… The list went on and on.

The rain was still going strong when Aryela finally pushed the parchment aside and rubbed her eyes wearily. Her stomach grumbled and her throat felt quite parched. Suddenly, the idea of going to the tavern to have a meal didn't sound like such a bad idea. Arctic's offer didn't really come to mind as she realized she had neglected to eat breakfast that morning. Ah, she was becoming forgetful.

With a shake of her head, Aryela strapped on her blades, pulled the gloves over her paws, then swung a green cloak around her shoulders. She yanked up the hood and braved the stormy weather. Lightning streaked across the sky as she made a run for the tavern, which wasn't too far from her room. One paw tapped the inside pocket of her vest, making certain that the money pouch was still there. Within minutes, she had arrived at the tavern at the same time as one of the other Tracker trainers. A stern-faced black squirrel glanced up at her and held the door open, nodding.

"Evening, General."

"Good evening, Tara," Aryela replied, dipping her head.

The black squirrel blew some water droplets out of her eyes and followed the she-wolf in. "Finally decided to leave the paperwork alone for a tick, eh?" Tara chuckled. While she was typically stern and sometimes cold to other beasts, she was very friendly to Aryela.

The General nodded and pulled back her hood, shaking some of the water off of her muzzle. "Can't deny a hungry stomach, hm?"

"Indeed not," Tara laughed. She patted Aryela on the back then swept through the tavern to meet up with some of her companions. Aryela watched her go then moved to a table to one side of the room. It was well lit, and she had a pretty good view of the stage where musicians often graced the tavern with song and dance.

Aryela dropped her cloak on a peg then sat down slowly. Her body was achy, partially from training, and partially from the rain. She wasn't really that old, but even her joints were sometimes bothered by the weather.

"What can I get for you, General?" a perky shrew asked beside her.

Aryela smiled. "Mug of strawberry fizz for now. I haven't decided what I want yet."

"Righto!" the shrew exclaimed and scampered off. Aryela smiled slightly. Must be new...

At that point, she had yet to notice Arctic.

[Arctic Fang]

Time seemed to stand still for Arctic while at the Tavern. Perhaps something unseen and incomprehensible to him knew that he needed this time to relax and unwind. Everything around him seemed to go in slow motion. It could be the drinks but it could also be that his mind was coming to the realization that his mate just might not come back. He eventually would have to move on and he wasn't sure that he could do that. Something wonderful came into his life and just like that it / she was gone. Selena vanished like a thief in the night. He thought her to be a thief because she stole his heart but then just dropped it like a rock into the vast ocean. The more the days passed the more angry he became with her, in turn he found that he was drinking just a little more then usual as well.

His table filled up quickly. Beasts sat without his permission but he couldn't really do anything about it. The Tavern was filling up fast. Every ten seconds or so someone new walked through those large wooden doors. Each time they did Arctic turned to see who it was. Maybe in the back of his mind he was looking for a female, two of them really. He thought that he'd be more excited to see Serena walk through but when Aryela did his heart skipped a few beats. Inwardly he chastised himself and made believe that he was listening, and involved, in the conversation at his table. Of course he hadn't the slightest idea what they were talking about but he smiled just the same.

From time to time he'd peer over at the femme that turned his offer down. He 'would' have gone over to talk to her but his pride thought the better of it. She rejected him once. Why then would he even think about talking to her so that she could do it a second time? Curiosity he supposed but his legs just wouldn't budge. Partly he was feeling the drinks that he was drinking and the other part just wouldn't let her see him squirm in her presence.

In his mind he was bouncing thoughts off of his brain left and right. Many... many thoughts. Physically he stretched his neck as if he were trying to allow them to escape so that he could have some peace of mind. He even adjusted in his seat to see if that would help. Arctic unconsciously shook his head and softly growled as he downed his ale and then chased it with a shot. None to lightly he placed it on the table, hoping to get the barmaid's attention.

There were several attendants at the Tavern on this night. It was a very busy night for them Art supposed because he watched as many servants scampered here and there. It didn't take long for a femme wolf to approach him. Naturally she swooned over him but he wasn't the type to accept such silly behavior. "Are you ready for another drink Captain Fang?" The patrons at his table fell silent as they realized that they held the company of a Fort Emerald Bay Captain. The male simply cleared his throat and responded. "Yes my dear. Please bring me the same as you have the last two times." Nonchalantly he rubbed his chin with his fingers and then sat back in his chair, stretching out his long muscular legs.

[Aryela Jade Secray]

Aryela sat patiently, waiting for the shrew to return with her drink. In the meantime, she contented herself with deciding what she wanted for dinner, and listening to the musicians as they struck a merry tune. She'd learned that there was a new bard in town that frequented the tavern at night. The she-wolf turned around in her seat, eying the odd assortment of players. There were the usuals, but with them was a red she-wolf, strumming a fiddle to her heart's content. Aryela was gifted herself with the lyre and the flute, but no one at the fort had really heard her play before. That was because Aryela kept her instruments tucked away where no one could find them. The she-wolf was a private creature. She'd had her heart used against her before, and it wasn't going to happen again.

The song came to an end, and with it came the return of the shrew. He placed her tankard on the table then stood by eagerly. "Do you know what you want, General?"

"Hmm..." Aryela thought for a moment then nodded towards the kitchens. "What's the chef preparing tonight? Anything special?"

"Oh indeed!" cried the shrew. "He's making um...oh what was it called, oh right! Pykes in Brasey. It's a fish dish, oh of course it's fish since it's a pyke, and it has a red wine sauce and some ginger and salt and....I think he has a secret recipe too and-and-"

"Slow down, lad," Aryela chuckled. "I'll take that. Oh, and for dessert I'll have apple muse if it's available."

"I'll make sure it's available," the shrew promised, then scurried away straight into a chair, and then into the kitchen.

Aryela smiled slightly and grabbed the strawberry fizz. It was about then that she felt eyes resting on her. The she-wolf glanced slightly over her shoulder, suddenly realizing that Arctic was in the tavern as well. She supposed it shouldn't surprise her considering he had invited her to a meal. Perhaps she had not been fair to reject him so bluntly, but Aryela didn't like taking risks, especially if it involved a male...an unknown male for that matter.

She went back to her drink, but one ear flicked up when she heard a tavernmaid address Arctic. "Are you ready for another drink Captain Fang?"

Captain Fang? Aryela ran through the list of names in her head and finally landed upon Arctic Fang. Ah, so that's who he was. It made sense she supposed. He did walk around with a certain amount of superiority, and why shouldn't he if he was a Captain? Still, her opinion of him did not change very much. Yes, he was trusted to the fort, but that meant little. She knew of plenty of creatures who could put on a face in front of a Commander then stab his comrade in the back.

You should get to know your fellow Generals and Captains, however, a voice scolded her. Aryela dismissed it and turned back to the music. The tavern was certainly filling up now and Tara had to shift seats to make room for a few more of the Trackers. Aryela stared at them warily, making certain none of them were getting overly intoxicated. They could drink and have a grand old time, but if they disrupted the patrons of the tavern, Aryela would certainly show them some of her true colors.

"Here you are, General!" the shrew returned with a flourish. He presented the plate proudly then scuttled back, an eager smile on his face. "Can I get you anything else?"

Aryela shook her head. "That'll be all for now, but thank you."

The shrew bobbed his head and fled once again, leaving Aryela to her meal. It certainly smelled savory enough. She cut into a piece and chomped down on it, enjoying the juicy flavor. Hm, yes, Emerald Bay had some of the best cooks.

"Does anyone have a song request?" the she-wolf bard called out to the audience.

Aryela glanced at the musicians again and sipped at her drink. Hm, maybe it would be a pleasant night.

[Arctic Fang]

Aryela Secray's presence was burning a hole in the back of Arctic Fang's mind. Every time he closed his eyes he saw her face. But why? He was married! Wasn't he? For all the male knew his supposed mate was merely playing a cruel joke on him. Come to think of it he had never seen her around the fort until that day. But... then again... Many beast came and went at Fort Emerald Bay. It wasn't highly unusual to see several beasts per day that he'd never seen before. Even he himself was new here at one time. Gah! He wished that he knew where she was! She vanished into thin air. This was just crazy! How long could he pine over a female that just up and left him without a word?

Art reached up and scratched his head with his claws and in turn ruffling up his headfur a bit. He didn't care what he looked like at the moment though when he chanced a glance of at Aryela he decided to straighten his hair just in case. It was about that time that his drinks arrived, again. The male wolf grinned and then nodded to the female waitress. "Oh yes... And miss! Please bring me the house special with some buttered garlic bread." The servant bowed her head and sauntered away as she yelled back to the kitchen. "I need another special for Captain Fang!" Art simply snickered and shook his head. Really he hated being known as a Captain. His rank wasn't something that he threw around. To him he was more like a servant to the fort rather then the fort a servant to him because he was of superior rank.

Arctic took a large gulp of air and then let it out by way of a groany sigh. He picked up his drink and finally freely allowed his eyes to dart over to the female wolf that he had recently asked to join him for dinner. Really he held no animosity toward her for saying no. Art raised his shot glass, gave her a bow of his head, silently giving her a toast and then he down it, not even following it by a wave of ale to quench the burn. Art didn't want to aggravate her by his acknowledgment but he simply wanted her to know that he knew that she was here.

In the meantime a scuffle was breaking out on the dance floor. It seemed that a rather drunk fellow thought that a local femme owed him a dance. She, on the other paw, saw things a little bit differently. The young hare protested by slapping him in the kisser but of course he didn't take that to kindly and ripped her dress in return as he tried to pull her near to him.

Arctic would have none of this! Fire flew up into his bold blue eyes as he threw back his chair with a loud bang, accidentally of course. He strode over the dance floor and kindly took the drunk male by the shoulder. "I do believe that the lady does not want to dance with you. Why don't you dance with one of your drunk friends over there?" The male was enraged but the female broke free from his grip, though she did not run because the pair were blocking her path to the door.

[Aryela Jade Secray]

Aryela dug into her meal before too long. The fish was quite delectable, and she made a mental note to thank the cook personally before she left. The tavernbeasts were hard workers, and they never seemed to receive much thanks from their customers, which was really a shame. The cooks here had a skill for coming up with delicious meals.

Aryela nibbled on some of the fish and took another sip from her mug, her ears perked towards the stage. A young otter had made a request, and the she-wolf bard had obliged by playing a merry ditty on her lute while singing along with the rest of the musicians. Aryela smiled slightly, enjoying the show.

Her eyes did not stay entirely on the bards, however. Time and again she'd glance at the Trackers, but they weren't causing any trouble. Satisfied, she would look at the musicians again before finding her attention slipping to another side of the room where Arctic was sitting. She didn't quite know what to make of him. He seemed like a respectable wolf, if not a bit odd. It just so happened that she chanced a glance in his direction at the same time that he raised his mug to her in a toast.

Aryela arched an eyebrow in mild surprise and watched him down the drink in one gulp. Purely to be polite, she nodded once to him to show that she had noticed before she ripped her eyes away to watch the bards once more. She yawned quietly and returned to her meal, her mind wandering to other things. Now, despite the peace in the tavern, she was starting to worry about paperwork again. And, there was the concern of when Red would return to the fort. Her mentor had been gone for a good while and had missed their last meeting time. Aryela could only assume that the wolverine was busy with a mission, but she was still worried.

Aryela blew out a breath, only to frown when she saw a tavern beast get rather rough with one of the females. The singing had stopped, and the bards watched in concern as the haremaid tried to fight her suitor off. Aryela started to rise, only to pause when Arctic flung his chair back and approached the offending male. Very slowly, Aryela lowered herself back down in her chair, content to let Arctic handle this. She didn't want to call more attention to the situation than necessary. If it got out of hand, then she would step in, but it looked like Arctic had it well in control.

The red she-wolf, Elmera, quickly moved forward and pulled the haremaid back while Arctic accosted the other fortbeast. "Stay back here with us, lass," she said soothingly to the maid. Elmera positioned the hare behind most of the musicians, blocking her from her attacker. Elmera watched cautiously, not wanting a fight to break out in the middle of the dance floor, especially when they were so close to the other bards.

[Arctic Fang]

Arctic didn't do this to impress or for any other reason then that he hated male's that thought they could bully the femme gender around. He simply hated it... with a passion. And of course the drunk beast wasn't about to go quietly into the night but rather he felt the need to put up a fight, if you'd want to call it that.

With Arctic's paw on his shoulder he spun around and swung on the white wolf. Easily the handsome brute dodged it and then snickered. The poor fellow just gave him more of a reason to hit him and feel justified in doing so. Arty chuckled and pushed him backward, a few chairs breaking beneath his fall. That had to hurt, if not now he'd feel it in the morning.

Arctic didn't wait for the fellow to get back up. He wanted to end this right here and right now. The crowd in the pub was disturbed enough by the drunkards rude mannerism. Fang flipped him over and pushed his head into the floor, putting his knee on his back until it really hurt and then leaned in to whisper into his ear. "Either leave now or I will be sending you to the local healer. I promise you... It will hurt." Naturally with that much alcohol in a body it makes them think that they are invincible. Art backed off to see what choice the rowdy beast was going to make.

In a matter of seconds the male that was on the floor was up and... kind of... on his footpaws. He took a boxers stance but not without wavering a few steps to the side. Arctic rolled his eyes and moved in. With one punch to the nose it was done. His buddies caught him and began to drag him out of the Tavern, keeping him away from Arctic before he ended up in a full body cast. Arty simply brushed off his paws and walked over to the female that was harassed. "Marm... Are you all right? If you wish to go home I will have one of the bouncers accompany you. Maybe that handsome young hare over there?" Arctic motioned for the strapping hare to come over. The bouncer took her paw and lightly tugged her toward him. "Come... We will have a drink and then if you still want to leave I will walk you home."

[Aryela Jade Secray]

Aryela was watching the fight intently now, her meal long forgotten. The urge to interrupt the confrontation grew stronger, but the she-wolf forced herself to remain seated for the moment. She wanted to see how Arctic handled this, not to mention she had to learn to trust her fellow general. Still, she hated just sitting there and doing nothing. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Tara rising. The squirrel sent a few nearby beasts a look, just daring them to get involved.

Most of the tavern beasts wanted to keep out of the way of Arctic and the drunkard. Unfortunately, a few of the intoxicated beast's companions were looking distinctly upset that Arctic was hurting their friend. Aryela saw an otter stand, and she sighed. Uh-oh, if the tavern beasts get involved, this might get a lot messier. Eh, so much for a peaceful evening.

Aryela stood and crossed her arms. Another beast had shifted out of his chair and both otter and hare moved towards Arctic. Idiots...Aryela nodded once to Tara who shifted to block their path. They hesitated long enough for Aryela to cross the tavern and stand at the squirrel's side. "You don't want to be doing that, friends."

"We ain't no friends to you," the rowdy otter growled.

A whiff of his breath told Aryela that he had been drinking as well. Spectacular. "All the same, it'd be best if you returned to your table and your drinks. Your friend will be fine. Might wake up with a few bruises, but it's better than the alternative."

"The alternative?" the hare asked. He seemed to be a little more coherent than his two companions. "What do ya mean?"

"Your friend’s lucky," Aryela said, gesturing to Arctic and the hare. "He's getting in a fight with a general, who won't gut him like other beasts might. Now, think about this for a moment. You go in and try to help your friend, and you might stir up even more trouble with the tavern beasts. While the general and I might be lenient about sparing your lives, I don't think some of the other drunken beasts will be. I also don't think either of you want to end up sitting behind a locked door, or strapped down to an infirmary bed. Sit down, and there won't be any trouble."

"Don't you threaten us ya-" the otter started, but his friend clamped a paw over his mouth. The male hare blushed and nodded to Aryela before jerking his friend back a step.

"She's right, mate. He's gotten himself into trouble. We don' need to make it worse for him...or us."

The otter still looked like he wanted to argue, but one glare from Aryela quelled his anger. With a grumble, he backed off. It was fortunate they backed down when they did because Arctic delivered a vicious bunch to the hare's nose and sent him flying at his friends. The second hare and otter caught the downed beast and quickly scurried out of the tavern. Aryela watched them go while Tara snorted.

"Should have knocked some sense into them, or threatened them with a blade."

Aryela shrugged. "Better to fight verbally than physically if I can help it." The wolf patted her fellow Tracker's shoulder then shifted towards Arctic and the victim. The bards had done a passable job of protecting the young haremaiden. When her attacker was taken from the tavern, she bobbed her head politely to Arctic.

"Th..thank you so much. You may have just saved my life," she whispered. A blush formed on her cheeks when the new hare walked over. He was indeed a handsome beast. Brushing a lock of headfur out of her eyes, she allowed him to take her paw. "A drink would be nice, thank you." She wasn't about to let that other hare ruin her night. Before she left, she nodded to the bards. "And thank you as well."

"You're quite welcome," Elmera said with a smile. "We're happy to oblige."

The haremaid hurried out off with her new companion while the bards set about trying to calm the tavernbeasts. A few waiters and waitresses hurriedly cleaned up the broken chairs, and soon the tavern was back to its normal cheery self with the bards singing and beasts happily eating and drinking. Aryela looked around slowly then arched an eyebrow at Arctic.

"Were you injured at all?" she asked. She hadn't seen the end of the battle, and she wasn't certain if the hare had landed any blows on him. Hopefully a trip to the infirmary wasn’t in order.

[Arctic Fang]

Arctic 'did' happen to notice how Aryela stepped in. In reality he might not have been able to take three beasts on and the white wolf may have been injured. But the Captain wasn't thinking of himself at the moment. He was thinking of the femme and how her honor was at stake, in more ways then one.

After it was all over Arctic seemed like there was a wall up around him. He even seemed a bit distant from the female that he had just saved. Likely it was the whole situation. It clearly made his hackles raise on his neck and down his back. For the first time in a while he was actually on the verge of blanking out. He hadn't gotten like that for a long time. There were times when he was younger that he'd wake up and immediately not recall what happened. Not many beasts were brave enough to get Arctic angry. But evidently this male was drunk enough to think that he could actually take the large while male. Arctic's reputation did not proceed him here at the Fort yet. Tonight may remedy that.

He took a deep breath, nodded to the damsel that was most recently in distress and then turned to Aryela, the true reason he was still here at all. If she had not come in he probably would have left much sooner then this. He would have missed the whole event entirely. In the end it was good that he stayed. He hadn't spotted any beasts here that may have been able to handle the crew of brawlers. "I'm fine." The proud male wished to not bring attention to his slightly swelling right eye and his busted open knuckles, though the blood did drip to the floor as he failed to bring it up to look upon.

The brute wasn't sure what to do next. He would have asked Aryela if she would like some company but she already rejected him once on this day. Art wasn't sure if he could take that twice in a row from the same female. He turned to look at her blankly. Truly he was wondering what she was thinking now. Surely his rank had been revealed to her, not that he ever used his rank to get places in his life. Quickly he shook his head, shaking the numbness that the alcohol and the fight rewarded his mind with. Softly he smiled. "Well. I guess I should turn in for the night." His heart dropped when he said this. Sorely he wanted to ask her for her company but the words were caught in his throat.

[Aryela Jade Secray]

"I'm fine."

The rhythmic pitter-patter of dripping blood and the slight swelling of Arctic's eye told Aryela that he most certainly was not "fine". He may have wished to put on a brave face in front of her, but ignoring injuries was just plain foolish. In her youth, Aryela had studied under a healer whom she had adored and revered. How many times had he been forced to endure her whining as he had tended to her wounds? Ah Morece, it has been too long, and it seems I may have forsaken your skills, she thought to herself sadly. When was the last time she had tapped into her healer side and tended to a beast? Many seasons...but surely she hadn't forgotten all of his lessons.

"Well. I guess I should turn in for the night."

"Wait," Aryela said in more of a commanding tone than she had intended. The she-wolf grimaced as a voice nagged at her to be kind to the Captain. "Please," she added as an afterthought.

Aryela left him standing there as she went over to the bar. Her former servant looked up in surprise then blinked as she began listing off the things she needed.

"Herbs?" he quipped. "Well....we have some for seasoning."

"That may be all I need," Aryela replied and listed off a few more things.

The young server flicked an ear then nodded. He scurried away into the back, and within several minutes, he had returned with a tray. On top was a bowl of warm water nestled beside a few white pouches of herbs. He had placed a couple bandages that they kept in reserve in case a cook cut himself near the bowl. Finally, there was a small slab of meat. Aryela nodded her thanks and tossed him a few coins.

"Keep a couple of those for your trouble."

"Thank you, Madam General!" he exclaimed and quickly pocketed the coveted coins.

Aryela nodded her thanks then moved towards a table a good distance away from the rest of the tavern beasts. By then, Elmera had started up another song with the bards, hoping to break the tension in the room. Already beasts were back to their typical chatter, and a few had also moved onto the dance floor with the impending threat gone.

Aryela placed the tray on the table then motioned for Arctic to join her. "I know your wounds aren't bad, but it'd be best to get them treated now instead of letting them fester. Besides, I'm not certain how busy the infirmary might be at this hour, so you'd do best to just let me look at your cuts and your eye."

She had a few other reasons to keep him in the tavern. One, she was worried that he might try to start up a fight outside with the drunken beast. She'd noticed the rage in his eyes, and the last thing they needed was for a Captain to accidentally maim or kill a fortbeast out of anger. Second, Aryela knew she hadn't been particularly pleasant to him earlier, and she figured this would at least make up for her bitter mood. Third, the small healing voice that she still possessed was pestering her to use the skills she had learned so long ago.

"Please, allow me to help..." she finally said in more of a sincere voice. She gestured to a chair across from the one she had chosen, silently urging him to sit. "The servant's already gone through the trouble of fetching me the supplies."